Oregon eco-saboteurs plead guilty but are not implicating others

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MEDIA ADVISORY
Civil Rights Outreach Committee

For Immediate Release: November 8, 2006
Contacts:
Lauren Regan, Civil Liberties Defense Center, Eugene, OR, 541-687-9180
Alejandro Queral, NW Constitutional Rights Center, Portland, OR 503-295-6400;
202-491-6204

Oregon Eco-saboteurs Admit Responsibility
Remain Resolute in Not Implicating Others

Eugene, OR - The four remaining non-cooperating defendants in the Oregon "Green
Scare" case today changed their pleas and agreed to drop their request for
production of NSA surveillance materials and data. Recent negotiations between
federal prosecutors and the defendants resulted in a global resolution
non-cooperation plea agreement whereby the four defendants will agree to accept
responsibility for their own roles in environmentally motivated crimes, but do not
agree to provide information or testify against anyone now or in the future.

Joyanna Zacher, Nathan Block, Daniel McGowan and Jonathan Paul appeared in federal
court this morning before U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken to enter pleas related to
acts of property destruction and arson. Zacher and Block each plead to one count of
conspiracy, attempted arson, and two separate incidents of arson. McGowan plead to
conspiracy and to two separate incidents of arson. The government is recommending
they be sentenced to 96 months in federal prison. Paul plead to one count of arson
and one count of conspiracy. The government is recommending Paul be sentenced to 60
months in prison. All four defendants are free to argue for a lesser sentence. The
next status hearing will be on December 14 to determine when sentencing will occur.

Despite the agreement however, federal prosecutors have asked the court to apply a
"terrorism enhancement" at sentencing. Should Judge Aiken grant the government's
request, the non-cooperating defendants could face up to 20 years in prison in
addition to the terms of the plea agreement. The government is seeking the
"terrorism enhancement" despite the fact that the crimes to which they have admitted
responsibility only involve the destruction of private property; no government
property was damaged in any of the incidents.

After the hearing, Jonathan Paul, through a statement made by his sister Alexandra
Paul, indicated that after the Cavel West slaughterhouse fire, "he realized that
fire was an unacceptable means to an end, no matter how compelling." He also stated
however, that he "will continue to be a person deeply committed to the betterment of
our society and the elimination of animal and human suffering."

During the hearing, Daniel McGowan made a heartfelt statement to a packed courtroom
that "this plea agreement is very important to me because it allows me to accept
full responsibility for my actions and at the same time remain true to my strongly
held beliefs." McGowan's attorney, Amanda Lee, added that Daniel "did not identify
or implicate any other individuals."

Despite the pleas entered today which resolve the Oregon cases in their entirety
Jeff Hogg remains imprisoned without having been charged with any crimes for his
refusal to testify against others after being subpoenaed to a federal grand jury.
After the hearing, Hogg's partner Cecilia Storey made an emotional plea for his
immediate release from custody.

Copies of a press packet with a synopsis of the prosecution, related articles
background information, historical examples of sabotage in the U.S., and a history
of FBI repression of political activism are available upon request.


EXCERPT:

fROM "Four to change pleas in Northwest ecoterrorism case"
11/8/2006, 5:57 p.m. PT
By JEFF BARNARD
The Associated Press

Nathan Fraser Block, 25, of Olympia, Wash., is charged with conspiring to commit
arson and topple a high-voltage electric transmission tower in Central Oregon just
before the change of the millennium, setting fire to SUVs at the Romania Chevrolet
Truck Center in Eugene in 2001 and attempted arson and arson at the Jefferson Poplar
Farm in Clatskanie in 2001.

Jonathan Christopher Mark Paul, 40, of Ashland, a wildland firefighter and animal
rights activist, is charged with conspiracy to commit arson and topple the
electrical tower, and setting fire to a horse slaughterhouse in Redmond in 1997.

Daniel McGowan, 32, of New York City, who was working for a nonprofit law firm
helping abused women when he was arrested, is charged with conspiracy to commit
arson and toppling the electrical tower, setting fire to the Superior Lumber Co.
office in Glendale in 2001, and attempted arson and arson at the tree farm.

Joyanna L. Zacher, 28, of Olympia, Wash., is charged with conspiracy to commit
arson, toppling the electric tower, firebombing the SUV dealership, and attempted
arson and arson at the tree farm.